^This.
It’s rather telling that BLF doesn’t even have a dedicated driver subforum.
In for two!
Whatever happened to the Tool AA anduril that was discussed? I’m not getting grandma a 500lm li ion
I liked djozz’s review of the SD03, particularly that it can easily be used with gloves on.
Is it moddable?
I’m always looking for lights I can mod to amber emitters, for myself and elderly friends whose sleep is easily disrupted by white lights.
This looks like an easily held onto shape and a simple UI.
Sounds interesting.
Sign me up for two!
PS, I edited my earlier post about drivers to correct myself.
HKJ has been reviewing drivers for quite a while:
If not too late for this I would be interested in 2
I disagree. I have Olights that use their special magnetic dock. They are most inconvenient when you can’t find the dock or forget to take it along and then find yourself needing to scramble for a charger that you can borrow. Pretty much impossible at times. Whereas you can alomost certainly borrow a USB cord or if need be buy a USB cord at the grocery, the pharmavy, etc.
Why? Let them use the same USB cables they use with everything else. More likely to get used & not be lost
In 
I agree that the charging should be via USB. However superior in design and function magnetic charging is, IMO that will not outweigh the convenience using a universal standard that is present in most homes. And a USB port is for most people self-explaining.
Btw, the fact that I do not find specialised aiding things for eldery people look particularly elegant has nothing to do with wether or not I respect eldery people.
I agree. The magnetic charging connector is not a good solution. I have two flashlights with magnetic connector for charging. Amutorch X9 and new Imalent DM21C. I wanted to buy the first version of the X9 with a standard USB connector, it was unfortunately sold out. I don’t use the magnetic charging cable for Amutorch at all. Charging the battery outside the flashlight. I would have to have at least three original cables. At home, in the car, at work. For older people, the USB C charging connector is best. It can be used from both sides.
Plagued by a plethora of incompatible cables is not likely to be Grandmas concern now is it?
But grip / dexterity / eyesight ARE.
count me in for this light...
Your idea is certainly right. The induction charging flashlight is sometimes sold by Lidl. But it produces it in large quantities, so the price is low. Sofirn cannot produce it in the same large series. The second argument is that seniors today often use mobile phones. Most use a standard USB interface for charging.
My reaction is also to the deleted post …
Yes, ‘even’ seniors use USB charging, of course.
Yes, USB-C would be best, as long as everything else would be USB-C too…
But by the time this light is on the market, USB-C will be more common, i guess.
Now we only have to figure out how the USB-C port will be accessible.
I.o.w., should there be some flap over it, or should it just be open?
Maybe just give it a rubber / silicone flap, which the end user can decide to remove altogether.
But an open port can be made waterproof too, but adds complexity to the production.
I would go for a standard USB C connector for charging.
I dont like those rubber flaps to cover it. These things are just to small to grab and handle, are always in the way to put the cable in an in a few years there are just worn out and wont stay in place (not just with flashlights!).
I’d rather go in the direction of the zanflare F1 or similar lights with the charging port covert and secured by an screw-on ring of some sort or inside the threads of the body (where you have to unscrew the body partly to charge). However that is not quite intuitive and also quite difficult at times (the zanflare F1 drives my crazy because there is no real open/close position).
My suggestion: Put the charging port at the Tail in place of a classic clicky with a waterproof cover.
(please dont kill me for my paint skills)
cons:
longer body
battery not accessable from the back
not at all what we are used to have
maybe difficult wireing/electronic
pro:
cap can be large and easy to grip.
everybody can unsrew it
intuitive, cause it is known to unscrew the back to change battery at a flashlight
battery not accessable from the back
maybe something new-ish
waterproof
poka yoke
I think that Sofirn will not get away with an open USB port when selling these to flashoholics, even when they are intended to be giveaways they need to have the normal IP67 water and dust proofing. And of course there is the “no manual needed” requirement: without reading manuals, people will use this light in wet conditions and this light should handle that. Even mobile phones are usually rainproof nowadays.
The USB port in the tail will require an extra insulated electrical connection from batt+ to tail, which is a structural challenge that will add costs and is an extra possible failure point. I doubt that this is feasable.
I have asked Sofirn already for looking into a better solution than the eternal rubber flap over the port, suggestions were the Zanflare F1-way or the port in the threads like the Noctigon K1 but they both have disadvantages as well, and hope that they just come up with something once the design starts. If we end up with a flap anyway that is not the end of the world for this budget light, but the aim is a better solution than that.
I’d be in for 2